H.—2o

11

WAIPA PRISON. The conduct of the prisoners has been very good. The general health of the prisoners has been very good. Very good work has been done by the prisoners during the year. Considering the fact that most of the prisoners received here had no previous knowledge of outside work, the returns for the year, which amounted to £1,702, cannot but be looked upon with the utmost satisfaction. Owing to the very dry season the vegetable and potato crops were not up to the usual standard, although a small sum was also received this year for surplus vegetables sold. Divine service has been conducted throughout the year by a Church of England minister from Rotorua. The following are details of the work done by the prisoners for the Forestry Department during the year : Clearing for tree-planting, 597 acres; pits dug, 455,000; trees planted, 427,000; 299 chains of road and service-track made; clearing growth amongst trees, and general main-tenance-work.

WELLINGTON. The practice of sending persons to prison suffering from the effects of drink still obtains. Time and again Gaolers have pointed out the gross injustice of sending such persons to prison, but the practice still continues. There were no escapes or attempted escapes during the year. The health of the prisoners has on the whole been good, as is to be expected, but there are always a number of human derelicts drifting in and out of prison who require medical attention. Brickmaking is still being carried on at Mount Cook, but as the supply of suitable clay is rapidly diminishing it will not be long before this industry will have to cease. Bootmaking and gardening are the principal industries engaged in at the Terrace. During the year a considerable amount of work has been carried out at Point Halswell. The work of tree-planting has been continued, and the work of excavating a site for the proposed new building has been gone on with. A considerable amount of work has also been done towards widening and improving the road between the Miramar Wharf and Shelly Bay. Up to the present the principal work carried out has been the removing of some of the most dangerous corners. Once this road is completed it should prove a very popular drive, and will no doubt be very much used. Now that the additions to Mount Cook and Point Halswell Prisons have been completed, it has been found possible to entirely abolish the system of confining prisoners in association. There is now sufficient accommodation available to provide for every prisoner being given a separate cell. Sunday services have been held as usual by representatives of the various religious denominations, both at the Terrace, Mount Cook, and Point Halswell. First Offenders' Probation Act. At the beginning of the year there were 8 males on probation. During the year 24 males and 1 female were admitted to probation ; 5 males and 1. female completed their terms of probation satisfactorily ;11 males were transferred to other districts—6 left with Expeditionary Force, 4 failed to report leaving. There were 13 males (including 5 transferred from other districts) and no females on the register at the end of the year 1915.

3—H. 20.